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New NJ transpo commish could be wild card for commuters

June could be the month where NJ Transit riders get to talk to the decision makers. NJ Transit's executive director will be the guest at a commuter coalition's meeting while two state lawmakers will talk about the Port Authority Bus Terminal next week. But it's also the month where transportation losses the "big boss," transportation commissioner Jim Simpson, who's last day on the job was Friday.

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June could be the month during which NJ Transit riders get to talk to the decision makers.

June could be the month during which NJ Transit riders get to talk to the decision makers.

NJ Transit's executive director will be the guest at a commuter coalition's meeting, while two state lawmakers will talk about the Port Authority Bus Terminal next week.

But it's also the month during which transportation loses its "big boss," Transportation Commissioner James Simpson, whose last day on the job was Friday. As of Friday evening, no replacement or acting commissioner had been named by Gov. Chris Christie. And that's a potential wild card in commuters' efforts to make the buses and trains run on time.

NJ Transit executive director Veronique Hakim, who was appointed by Simpson, will be the guest speaker at the Lackawanna Commuter Coalitions meeting at Millburn Town Hall at 7 p.m. June 23.

The coalition meeting is open to the public and officials urged NJ Transit riders to attend if they have issues they'd like to bring up to Hakim. Millburn Town Hall is located 375 Millburn Ave.

At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, state Sen. Loretta Weinberg and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson, both D-Bergen, will hold a hearing about the Port Authority Bus Terminal with NJ Transit officials in Teaneck.

This might be a wake-up call for similar hearings about bus terminal conditions in other parts of the state. The busy Route 9 corridor would be a good place for the next hearing.

The crowding and delay problems at the aging bus terminal are legendary and until recently, Port Authority officials had not included the terminal in its 10-year capital plan for major work. Last Month, Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye said the agency had freed up $90 million for work on the bus terminal, although specifics weren't given about what how the terminal would be improved.

For mass transit riders and drivers, the big wild card is who will replace Simpson, who returned to the private sector to run his Middlesex County-based trucking company. The governor's office did not respond to an e-mail asking whether Christie planned to name an acting commissioner or to nominate a new commissioner.

There is concern whether a new commissioner will continue what Simpson started. Simpson, who as commissioner, also was chairman of NJ Transit's board, took an activist role — asking questions, sometimes challenging, and on a couple of occasions, clashing with NJ Transit administration.

Transit advocates have questioned if a new commissioner and Hakim will be on the same page, as she and Simpson were.

Lackawanna Coalition president David Peter Alan expressed that concern publicly at NJ Transit's May meeting after news of Simpson's decision to step down was confirmed.

"We had hoped the team of Jim Simpson and Ronnie Hakim could effect change," he said. "It will be harder with an executive director who is new to the job and a new commissioner."

Some insiders said there was a new sheriff in town when Hakim came to the agency, which had suffered black eyes from long waits experienced by riders trying to leave Super Bowl 48 by train, and from the controversial decision to leave trains in low-lying areas that flooded after superstorm Sandy.